VTFan

Spinning...30 lb Power Pro hi-viz yellow braid to 15-20 lb. fluro leader using FG knot with Rizzuto finish. Hasn't failed me yet. Casting...straight 30 or 40 lb. Power Pro braid.

Very true!!!

I agree with the above comments. I would bet you'll be saying a few choice words using that fluro on spinning gear...wind knots galore!!! I hated spinning gear all my life until I discovered braid to fluro or mono. Now it's my finesse go to.

As for me, I just open the bail if it's a spinning reel and pull the line off down across the yard. Keep in mind if it is spinning gear I'll be using braid. Then when I put it on another reel once I tie on to the reel and close the the bail I hold the rod out straight while pinching the line between my fingers and reel in. Baitcasting gear is much simpler. Just pull off line from one reel down across the yard, tie on to next reel and pinch between fingers and reel in. Hope all this makes sense. LOL!!!

Many years ago when I was learning to cast a baitcaster I remember watching Bill Dance one day and he said to make a normal cast, then pull off another 5 to 10 ft. of line and then put a piece of electrical tape on the spool and reel in. That way if/when you do backlash you only have to dig out to the tape, not the entire spool. That little trick has saved me more often than I care to think about.

I can!! I can also relate to having a treble hook break also. I was just lucky it wasn't on a fish of a lifetime!!

Melding two pieces of worm back together works just fine. I've actually had them break somewhere else other than the melded seam. Melding the head of the plastic where the hook eye tears it can be tricky with a lighter though.

I usually take a lighter to broken or ripped plastics and just meld them back together, sometimes to the point I'll take two different color plastics and make one lure of mismatched colors. Then I don't know which color the bass are preferring LOL!!!

Mepps spinners, Creme worms that came pre-rigged with a couple hooks and a spinner up front. I think they still make both of these. Might be worth trying out for old time sake.

I haven't fished these in a while but used to all the time. Don't know why I got away from them. I guess like most things they aren't made with the quality they used to be. Those things used to be killers.

I'm guilty of most of them. Not making multiple cast to the same spot being the main one but also guilty of a couple more. Have to try to do better. Thanks Glenn!!!

Matt Stephan, Tyler Berger, Steve Rogers, Brian Latimer, Fish the Moment, Ott.

I tried Matt's hair dryer/heat gun method and it worked like a charm.

If I have two stick worms that are about to break in the middle I'll go ahead and break cut both in half and melt the opposite colors together making a half color of each. Makes it interesting because then I don't know which color the bass liked LOL!!!

I had forgotten that Yum made those things. I've never caught anything on the Eel but the smaller tadpole I've caught bunches, even now.

JMHO but I'm using straight 40 lb. PowerPro braid on my baitcasters and 30 lb. PowerPro Hi Viz yellow w/17 lb. leader on my spinning gear. All my casting reels are Abu Silver Max's and the like and I can cast a mile with the above mentioned braid. Like I said, this is just my opinion.

I agree with Susky. Wacky rigs, shaky heads, drop shots I'll fish with a spinning outfit. Anything else I'm using a baitcaster. That includes Texas rigged worms and jigs.

Does anyone remember the old Dancin' Eel and Dancin' Tadpole lures? Lately my go to lures aren't producing so I reverted back to some past go to lures and happen to dig out an old red Dancin' Tadpole and went back to catching bass. The one I'm using is years old and shows it. Does anyone know if these lures are even still made?

Personally if I'm fishing a Texas rig worm on a baitcaster I use straight fluro. For shaky heads and wacky worm fishing I use braid with a fluro leader. My brother on the other hand will fish straight braid on Texas rigs and catches just as many fish as I do. JMHO.

You said, " big epiphany was that I didnt need to put heat on the cast. a gentle cast is all that is needed". Maybe that is my problem. I've been practicing, practicing, and more practicing but still only get two or three skips. I'll have to try backing off the force of my cast. Thanks.

You said it!!! As the saying goes..."Discretion is the better part of valor".

I too carry a 'day box' to the pond and leave my big tackle bag at home. I carry mine in a lap top computer bag that has some pockets and a front zipper pocket to carry some bags of plastics etc.. It has a shoulder strap to carry it on my shoulder. I got tired of toting that big bag to the pond. This way I can carry what I know the fish normally bite and if I get skunked I just chalk it up to "there's always tomorrow". JMHO

Deep cranks, drop shot, lipless cranks.

I do the same thing.

It took me many years to master casting into the wind and still on occasion I will get that dreaded birds nest. Using braid has made a difference also...at least to me is has. And as others have already said, sidearm roll cast on windy days are a must. I remember a time when we avoided casting into the wind at all cost LOL!!!